Can filling apparatus



' Aug. 22,l 1944. H, AYARS 4 CAN FILLING APPARATUS Filed 0017. l0. 1940 INVENTOR CIBAARLES H. AYARs J AITORN EY Patented Aug. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

l' CAN FILLrNGiAPPARATUs CharlesIfIQ-Ayars, Salem, N. J. Application detener 10, 1940,v serial No. 360,590

3- claimss (o1. aac-124) This invention relates to can iilling apparatusy and more particularly to improved .means for rapidly supplying cans or the like with'l'quid, such as syrup or brine. Y

I am familiar with prior apparatusof the above general type wherein valve means operable by can movement control ow of liquid. to the can but the amount of liquid passing to the valve means during each filling operation has tobe measured or accurately controlled to prevent overflow. This results in a relatively complicated construction in addition to retarding the speed at which lcans may be lled. Prior constructions of this general type have also provided for the escape of air from the cans through theliquid in a supply tank resulting in an undesirable -bol ing of the supply liquid. A A

It is a primary object of the invention 'coprovide simple and eilicient apparatus including valve means for rapidly supplying liquid to cans or the like without waste and without requiring that the4 amount of liquid passing to the valve means during the lling operation be accurately controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and elicient apparatus for supplying lq' uid to cans or the like, and wherein air escaping from the cans, during the filling Qpeljation, is vented directly to atmosphere and without contacftiller liquid inasupply tank. e

Another object of the invention is to provide can filling apparatus of the above type adapted to provide a smooth liquid ow into the cans with minimum agitation` due to escaping air.

A further object of the invention is to' pre1 vide can iilling apparatus Qf the above type having improved valve means associated therewith. Accordingv to the inventioma liquid Supply tank has a valve opening in or adjacent the base thereof andl liquid flow through said opening is controlled by valve means including a resilient member operable by can movement. A portion of the valve means projects into the can during Cape vof air from the. can during the filling operationrwithout bubbling through the liquid in .Supply tankl Y rIhe drawing illustrates embodiments of my invention and the views therein are as follows:

Figure 1 is an elevational sectional view showing my improved apparatus disposed externally of a liquid supply tank, and Figure 2 is a View generally similar to Figure 1,

the

but wherein the valve means are disposed within the supply tank.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1, I have indicated generally at l0 a supply tank adapted to be lled with liquid, such as syrup or brine, to a desired level Il. Disposed externally of tank ID is a generally dome-shaped housing l2 which communicates with the tank through a passage I3, whereby liquid may be continuously supplied to housing l2 from tank I0. Housing I2 is shown formed in-A tegrally with the tank, but it is understood that the housing may be de'tachably secured to the tank, ii desired. Housing l2 is provided with an external peripheral ange I4 joining the tank base, and an annular element lli, formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material, is sealingly clamped between flange I4 and a ring l l. It will be noted by reference to Figures l and 2. that the top portion of housing I2 is below the normal liquid level Il in the supply tank, whereby a predetermined volume of liquid will be received in the housing.

Movably supported by element i6 is a generally circular valve element I8 having a circular groove I'Sl .therein for receiving the inner peripheral portion of element lr6. Due to the resilience of element I6, it may be forced over and around thel lower ange of groove I9 to its assembled position. Threadedly supported by valve member the time the valve is fully open and provides v suicient displacement. in the can for receiving liquid which may continuev to flow while the valve means is closing. Thus, the necessity for accurately controlling or measuring the amount of liquid passing to the valve means from the.

supply tank during each filling operation t0 prevent overow is eliminated. The inllowng liquid is directed towards and against the sides of the can resulting in a smooth flow and reducing agitation and foaming to a minimum. Additionally, vent means are provided for the direct es- I8 is a tube 2l having an external circular-lip 22 at its lower end. The lower face of lip 22 is inclined downwardly, at least, at the outer portion thereof, for a purpose to be later described. The inner portion of lip 22 forms a valve seat 22a, which may be horizontal or slightly inclined. Valve seat 22a is adapted to engage a valve 23 formed of rubber or other suitable material. Valve 23 is projected over the lower end of a rod 24, and is secured by a nut Z6. The upper surface of valve 23 is of tapering tubular form to provide a curved surface adapted to direct liquid now laterally and substantially uniformly in al1 directions. Nut 2li` preferably has a curved lower .face, and may be provided with grooves, (not shown) for rotating the same. Rod 2-4 threadedly engages a boss 2'I formed on the upper central portion of housing I2, whereby the rod may be moved vertically to adjust the position of valve 23. A lock nut `28 maintains rod 24 in an adjusted position. Extending from the upper portion of housing I2 is an open-ended tube 29 which is of suilicient height to receive liquid to the maximum liquid level of supply tank l0, since liquid will reach the same level in tank I and tube 29. A ventrtube 3| extends from member I8 through tube 29, and preferably terminates slightly above tube 29.

A compression spring 32 engages the top por-v,

may be stationary or rotating. For speed of operation, I prefer to rotate the tank and associated valve means by any suitable means, and to concurrently rotate the lift tables so that a lift table will always be disposed beneath each housing I2. At a point in the rotary path of the lift table, a can is disposed thereon in upright position and centrally beneath housing I2; the lift table at this point being in a lowered position so that the top edge of the can can be moved laterally beneath nut 26 vand as the lift table moves along'its path it is raised to bring the can into Contact with element I6 and operate tion of housing I2 and the upper surface of mem'- ber I8, and will normally maintain valve seat 22a in sealing engagement with valve 23.

The operation of the above describedfappa-=- ratus will now be explained. Liquid from supp ly A tank I ll will iiow through passage I3 to the housing I2 and up through tube 29 to a level correspending with `the liquid level in the supply tank. A can 36, to which liquid Yis-.to besupplied, is supported on a lift table l3'I disposed beneath housing I2, and the can is projected Qup'wardly by the lift table, whereby'the top edge ofthe can will engage the resilient annular element I6 and force the radially inner portion of element I6 upwardly against the force of spring 32. Merliber I8 and tube 2| will also be forced upwardly, thereby movin-g Valve. seat 22a from engagement with valve 23, and permitting liquid from tube 2| .to flow between lip 22 and valve 23 into the can. The curved upper surface of valve 23 directs the liquid substantially uniformly` outwardly. Lip 22 directs the liquid Vslightly downwardly, and the resultant effect is that the liquid is directed against the sides of the can in a smooth stream, thereby reducing foaming and agitation of the liquid to a minimum. It will be apparent thatzif the liquid would drop directly to the base of the can, or directly into the liquid in the lower portion of the can, that considerable foaming and agitation of the liquid would result. As the can fills, air is expelled through vent tube 3| and the liquid in tube 29 forms a liquid yseal within which tube 3| is freely movable. The time required to fill the can can be accurately predetermined, and when the can is filled it iswithdrawn downwardly through lowering movement of the lift table, and valve seat 22a is forced into sealing engagement with Valve 23 by spring 32. With the above described arrangement it is not necessary to pre-measure or accurately control the amount of liquid passing to the-,valve means since any excess liquid will merely tend to rise in vent pipe 3| to the level of liquid Vin housingl I2, and since the liquid level in housing I2 vis rapidly reduced during theA filling operation,V a relatively small amount of liquid will be disposed in the vent tube ;3|.v The portion of tube 2| extending into the can, together ywith valve 23 and nut 26, providessuicient displacement space in the can to receive any liquid from tube 3| as the can is being vwithdrawnwithout overflow, and the displacement space can be controlled by moving tube 2| and valve 23 vertically to dispose a greater orlesser portion of tube 2| in the can.

, Although Ihave only illustrated and described one valve means, it is understood that any desired number may be disposed .around the tank, and in practice I employ eight or ten such valve means disposed around a circular tank. However, it is understood that a tank of any desired contour may be employed, andy that the tank the valve mechanism in the manner described. Atv the 'completion of the filling operation, the can is withdrawn downwardly to a position so that it may clear nut 26 and be moved from the nit tatie.

The particular manner of rotating the tank and operating the lift table constitutes no particular part of my present invention, and since such mechanism is well known only a 'brief description has been given herein. f v

Referring now to Figure 2, I have shown a modification of my invention generally similar to that illustrated in Figure 1, but wherein the housing and valve mechanism are disposed within the tank rather than externally thereof. In this modification, the tank base 4ll'is provided with a generally circular opening formed to provide a shoulder 4|. Element I6 is seated upon shoulder 4I and the base of housing 42 rests upon element I6 and is preferably detachably secured to thetank base by means of lugs 43 andV bolts 44. `Of course, sufficient pressure is exerted on element I6 to maintain a liquid-tight joint. A plurality of holes 46 are provided in housing 42 adjacent the tank base, whereby liquid'from the supply tank may enter the housing. The operation of the valve mechanism is as described in connection with the modification of Figure 1.

Although I have shown and described preferred forms of my invention, I contemplate that .numerous extensions and departures-therefrom may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

The inventionfis hereby claimed as follows:Y

1. Can filling apparatus comprising a liquid supply tank, a closed liquid-receiving housing associated with the tank having its topportion below the normallevel of liquid in the tank, vcon'- tinuously open and restricted communicating means betweenthe tank and housing whereby a predetermined volume of liquid will be received in the housing, an annular flexible member sealingly vsecured to the housing base, a tubular valve element carried by theV flexible member and movable therewith, said tubular element extending a substantial distance below said flexible member and being adapted to extend into a canduring. filling thereof, means operable independently of housing fluid pressurefor lifting a can upwardly against the flexiblemember, a fixed valve member extending below the tubular element and normally closing the lower end thereof, the tubular element being movable by can pressure directed upwardly against the flexible Ymember to permit liquid passage therethrough at a rate of speed greater than the speed of ow of` theliquid from the supply tank into the liquid-receiving housing, and a continuously open vent tube extending through the housing to atmosphere and adapted to communicate with a can for vent,- ing air from the canV during filling. Y

2. Can'j filling yapparatus comprising a liquid supply tank, a closed liquid-receiving housing associated with the tank having its top portion below the normal level of liquid in the tank, the top portion of the housing being continuously open to atmosphere, continuously open and restricted communicating means between the tank and housing whereby a predetermined Volume of liquid will be received in the housing, an annun lar exible member sealingly secured to the housing base, a Valve element carried by the flexible member including a tubular portion extending a substantial distance below said flexible member and adapted to extend into a can during lling thereof, the lower end of the tubular portion being outwardly flared to provide a valve seat, a iixed Valve member extending below the tubular portion and normally engaging the valve, the valve element being movable upwardly by can pressure exerted against the flexible member and independently of housing fluid pressure to pere mit liquid passage therethrough at a rate of speed greater than the speed of iiow of the liquid from the supply tank into the liquid-receiving housing, and a continuously open vent tube extending through the valve element and housing to atmosphere for Venting air from a can during filling.

3. Can lling apparatus comprising a liquid supply tank, a dome-shaped closed liquid-receiving housing associated with the tank having its top portion below the normal level of liquid in the tank, continuously open and restricted communicating means between the tank and housing whereby a predetermined volume of liquid will be received in the housing, a exible member sealingly secured to the tank base, a Valve element supported centrally of the flexible member and movable therewith, said valve element comprising a tubular portion extending a substantial distance below said flexible member and adapted to extend into a can during filling thereof having a valve seat at its lower end, a rod supported by the housing and projected through the tubular portion, a xed Valve member supported by the rod and normally closing the valve seat, the ilexible member and valve element being movable upwardly by can pressure and independently of housing uid pressure to permit liq.- uid passage therethrough at a rate of speed greater than the speed of flow of the liquid from the supply tank into the liquid-receiving housing, and a continuously open Vent tube to atmosphere extending through the valve element and mov- -able therewith disposed laterally of the tubular portion for venting air during filling.

CHARLES H. AYARS. 

